Emily Ehrlich

Emily is the daughter of Lily, mother of Lottie, and grandmother of Hannah. Like all the women, she has strengths but she also has some weaknesses. Her major strength is that she's self-confident and is willing to defy convention. This allows her to become a single mother, though she admits that she briefly considered abortion. She never feels the need to marry simply for the sake of appearances. She also pushes her way into journalism, which is a male-dominated field during Emily's lifetime. She has to work hard at her craft and it takes years for her to become a respected member of the journalism community.

Emily is also fully aware of her mother's background, which leads her to write a thank-you letter to Isabel Jennings, the woman who gave Lily money, a brooch, and encouragement when Lily set out for America. This letter is an indication...